From: Kylie Purcell
To: VOCALIST <vocalist>
Subject: Re: Speaking/Singing Voice (ranting about countertenors :)
Send reply to: VOCALIST <vocalist>



On Mon, 7 Feb 2000 Axwell-at-aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 2/7/00 10:10:56 AM Pacific Standard Time, toda-at-mills.edu
> writes:
>
> << I'd be curious to know if women who undergo sex-change with hormone
> therapy (to lower their voices) also lose their upper extensions. >>
>
> Thanks for your reply. I don't know about hormone therapy, But I know of a
> woman who was a coloratura before she was treated with testosterone(for what
> she never told me), and she lost a full octave from her voice. I believe
> that there is a definite connection between the voice and the sex hormones,
> although I have never really seen it spelt out as exactly how it works.
> Perhaps one of the doctors on our list would write about the phenomenon and
> about the wiring of which you write.

I don't know about sex change requirements, but with regards to hormone
therapy treating matters like endometriosis, depending greatly on the
content of the pill itself (with regards to progesterone and testosterone
levels) it certainly can have an effect on the voice. I've had
recurrences of endometriosis and overian cysts, the first occuring when I
was 20. At that time, varieties of the pill weren't as plentiful as
now and the specialist wasn't willing to chance the effects of the pill on
my singing. There has been greater progress made since then with regards
to hormone treatment, but naturally it will depend on the individual
patient concerned and their treating specialist.

With regards to sex-change therapy, one of my friends is undergoing
male to female hormone therapy and naturally it did have an effect on
his voice. His speaking and singing range increased, losing much
of the lower range associated with the male voice.

I'm sure Dr Schweinefurth would be able to provide you with greater detail
as would many of the expert vocalist educators here.


Just my two bits:)

Kylie